Japan's former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has stressed on the need for creating an investment-friendly atmosphere in Nepal.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Kaski chapter on Tuesday, the Japanese former Prime Minister said Nepal has abundant potentials of development, but the creation of an atmosphere favourable for investment is needed so as to materialise such potentialities.

Nepal's youth human resources have been flying to Gulf countries for employment due to lack of proper development of industries and factories at home, he said, suggesting the development of small and medium-scale industries to engage youth power in finance-generation activities within the country.

Japan was struck by a major earthquake in 2011 like that of one Nepal suffered recently and it was essential to expedite the post-quake reconstruction works with a high priority, he asserted.

Describing the natural beauty of Pokhara, the former Prime Minister Hatoyama said that it is a tourist city and environment-friendly tourism infrastructure should be developed here.

Programmes of international –level, as he said, can be conducted in Pokhara to boost up its image and identity in the international arena. Arrivals of Japanese tourists in Nepal will go up if Nepal and Japan are connected by direct flight. RSS